Watch The Anthem of the Heart

The Anthem of the Heart is a Japanese animated movie from 2015 that tells the emotional story of a girl named Jun Naruse, who is suffering from a deep emotional pain that leaves her unable to speak. When she was a child, Jun had unknowingly caused her parents' divorce by telling her father's mistress about their affair, and ever since then, she has felt guilty and responsible for her family's unhappiness.

One day, she is chosen to be on the committee of her high school's musical production, which is set to perform an adaptation of the play called The Anthem of the Heart. She is assigned the task of writing lyrics for the play, but her frozen emotions make it difficult for her to find the right words. During the process, she meets three other committee members: Takumi Sakagami, a popular boy who is a talented singer; Natsuki Nitou, a playful and fun-loving girl who is also part of the play's cast; and Daiki Tasaki, a serious and quiet boy who is in charge of the script.

As they work together, they discover that each of them carries their own emotional baggage. Takumi has his own struggles with his family and a dream that seems impossible to achieve. Natsuki hides her true feelings behind her cheerful persona, and Daiki has a difficult relationship with his father who is a writer but doesn't approve of his son's involvement in the play. As they open up to each other and share their stories, they find solace in their shared pain, and their friendship deepens.

The play becomes a way for Jun to express her feelings, and as she writes the lyrics, she finds the courage to confront her past and her guilt. She begins to see that she was just a child and couldn't have been responsible for her parents' divorce. She also learns to forgive herself and start to heal her emotional wounds.

However, the play is not without its own problems, as Takumi's dream is jeopardized when he is required to move to Tokyo for his studies, Natsuki's true feelings are revealed, and Daiki struggles with finding the right ending for the play's script. As they face their own personal challenges, they also confront and overcome the problems that plague their musical production.

The movie is a tale of friendship, acceptance, forgiveness, and coming-of-age. It skillfully weaves together themes of family, friendship, love, and music, creating a heart-warming and uplifting story. The characters are relatable and well-developed, the animation is beautiful, and the musical score is fitting for the story. The film takes the audience on an emotional journey, and it successfully delivers its message of hope, redemption, and the power of music to heal emotional wounds.

Overall, The Anthem of the Heart is a captivating and emotional movie that leaves a lasting impact on its viewers. It is a must-watch for anyone who loves coming-of-age stories, music, and emotional dramas.

The Anthem of the Heart is a 2015 animated movie with a runtime of 1 hour and 59 minutes. It has received mostly positive reviews from critics and viewers, who have given it an IMDb score of 7.3.